North Carolina upsets Pitt; first win vs. ranked team since '23 - ESPN

PITTSBURGH — Billy Edwards Jr. threw a 75-yard touchdown pass in the second half and North Carolina knocked off No. 25 Pittsburgh 21-17 on Saturday.

Pitt had just taken a 17-14 lead when the Tar Heels immediately responded. Edwards hit Shamar Easter for a 75-yard score down the seam for the go-ahead touchdown, giving coach Bill Belichick his first win against a ranked opponent at North Carolina.

«Every play is designed to be an 80-yard touchdown,» Edwards said. «They obviously don't all go that way, but it felt really nice to see Shamar catch and run with that.»

It was North Carolina's (3-2) first win against a ranked opponent since defeating No. 25 Miami in 2023 and the Tar Heels' first ranked road win since taking down No. 9 Miami in 2020.

Edwards completed 18 of 26 passes for 249 yards with touchdowns to Easter and Jelani Thurman and a pair of interceptions. Demon June also rushed for a touchdown and Jordan Shipp caught six passes for 93 yards.

«It's great to come in here and win,» Belichick said. «Really proud of our team. We made some great plays and it was just an all-around solid team effort.»

Holden Geriner, a fifth-year senior, completed 27 of 44 passes for 219 yards with two interceptions for Pitt (5-1).

Geriner, a 23-year-old transfer from Auburn, made his first collegiate start with sophomore quarterback Mason Heintschel out for the rest of the season after tearing the ACL in his right knee during a victory against Virginia Tech last week.

«Obviously, his first start… he will get better and better just from the experiences,» Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. «Got a lot of faith and trust in him. I was happy with the way he played in his first start.»

Geriner sailed a fourth-down pass that was dropped by a